Florida colleges offer a deal

Florida’s state university presidents said today that they would not ask for a tuition increase in the coming year if the Legislature will increase state funding by $118 million in the coming year.

The Legislature cut the university system budget by $300 million this year and the university presidents, representing 12 universities including New College of Florida, said the system has seen a 40 percent cut in state funding over the last five years.

“We cannot continue to tighten our belts without impacting our students,” said University of West Florida President Judy Bense. “For many of us, that may mean fewer class sections and students waiting longer to graduate.”

Students also backed the proposal, with Cortez Whatley, president of the Florida Student Association, saying “we need to keep a college education affordable and accessible to all.”

Senate Appropriations Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said the Senate would give serious consideration to increasing state funding for the state universities in the 2013-14 state budget, which takes effect July 1.

"I believe that over time we have put too much state funding into health and human services and not enough into higher education, so I'm generally supportive of additional funding," Negron said.

Negron said additional funding in the Senate would likely be linked to Senate President Don Gaetz's proposal to provide incentives to state universities to create more science, math and technology degrees. "Those final decisions will have to be made by the (Appropriations) Committee."

Gov. Rick Scott, who has voiced strong opposition to more tuition increases, praised the announcement from the university leaders.

“We know Florida families want the best value possible from our higher education system, which means we have to make advanced degrees more affordable and more connected to students’ ability to get a great job when they graduate," Scott said in a statement. "We are pleased to share this important goal with many of Florida’s finest higher education leaders who are committed to holding the line on tuition. We look forward to working closely with them as we put together a proposed budget and other policies for the upcoming legislative session.”

University tuition has increased in Florida in recent years, particularly since lawmakers agreed to let the 12 universities raise their rates on their own _ up to 15 percent a year.

Nonetheless, Florida’s tuition rates remain low compared to the nation, ranking 41st among the states this year at $6,232 _ well below the national average of $8,655.

Earlier this year, the Legislature backed a bill that would remove the tuition cap for Florida’s top research schools _ including the University of Florida and Florida State University _ allowing those schools to raise tuition to a “market rate” comparable to other major public research universities around the nation.

But Scott vetoed the bill in the spring, saying he understood “how difficult it is for our students, and in many cases their families, to afford the costs of higher education.”

Florida State University President Eric Barron said the top research universities would continue to push for a market-rate bill, saying it was a “separate issue” from the universities’ promise not to raise tuition “one penny” if lawmakers approve the $118 million increase.

Lloyd Dunkelberger

Lloyd Dunkelberger is the Htpolitics.com Capital Bureau Chief.
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Last modified: December 5, 2012
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